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General Info and Tips

Some useful information and tips....

Encasing the starting yarn tail: When working in a MC, I encase the starting yarn tail into the second round of stitching and cut it off after a few stitches. This neatly and securely hides it without having to weave it in at the end.

Finish Off (FO): Slst into the next stitch to secure the yarn and then cut the yarn free leaving a tail, leaving the hole open unless it says to close the hole.

Closing the hole

Closing the hole: For the neatest finish, I weave the yarn tail through the front loops only of the stitches in the last round going from centre outwards in all stitches. I do this loosely and then pull tight once I have gone through all stitches. Then hide the yarn tail into the body.

Invisible decrease: This is done by going through the front loop only rather than both loops of the stitches you are decreasing. This gives a neater, tighter finish.

Stitch Marker:

You want to use this when crocheting in the round.

I use a very long scrap piece of yarn as a stitch marker weaving it into place whilst not removing it from the previous round. I do this incase I make a mistake and then can easy get to the correct round and starting point.

MC:

When I first started crochet I had real trouble getting my hook through the first stitch after pulling the loop tight. It maybe where I pull it very tight and crochet quite tightly too. To help this, before pulling the loop closed, I place a scrap piece of yarn, like you do with a stitch marker, through that first stitch I made (which will be the first stitch of the second round). I remove it once I am ready to crochet into that stitch.

Toy filling/Stuffing:

100% Hi-Loft Polyester. It is fully washable so is perfect

I don't have a stuffing stick, I use Orange Sticks (generally for use of nails). I find these just as effective. cheaper, and a good size to get into small gaps

If you have issues with filling coming through when closing up the hole in amigurumi, it can help to place a bit of felt over the filling in the hole.

To avoid clumps in amigurumi, break the filling into smaller pieces and stuff little by little. It is a little more time consuming but gives a smoother and more even filling.

Joining Two Open Pieces:

These pieces are joined together using a whipstitch unless otherwise stated.

Attaching Two Closed Pieces:

1. Pin the two pieces together to insure the pieces stay in places. Thread the yarn tail of the limb through the needle.

2. Insert the needle through the hole the yarn tail is coming out of and go through the leg and body.

3. Insert the needle through the same hole in the body you just came out of slant the needle so that it goes through a different hole the body and leg where the join is.

Repeat this until the limb is securely sewn. Going in and out of the same stitch on the pieces that are showing insures that you do not get dimples in the pieces.

Yarn:

I use DK acrylic yarn for my amigurumi. The brand is Hayfield. I like this yarn because I can get it from a craft shop near by, it comes in a wide range of colours and is washable.

I am English and I call it yarn. I often get picked up on that as apparently 'yarn' is more of an American term. It is just a term I have learnt to use before I even started crocheting. Wool is made from sheep and is expensive, it is a type of yarn. Yarn is just a more general term I guess. You can call it wool or yarn, we all know what you mean.

Hooks:

I tend to use 3mm hook for most of my projects. The yarn I use will generally tell me to use a 4mm but I prefer the tighter finish that the 3mm gives me.

I have a set of hooks that are different sizes and have comfort handles.

Love your profile picture and looking forward to doing the A few of the toys for baby shower gifts. Never crocheted with a 3mm hook always done the 6.5 or larger, looking forward to seeing how it will turn out. You do a beautiful job crocheting��

My profile picture is my gorgeous cat. He is rather funny looking bless him! I use DK yarn for the majority of the patterns. That recommends a 4mm hook however I find going down to a 3 mm hook gives a better look for this type of crochet as the stuffing doesn't show through. But any hook would work. It's also about personal preference too. Let me know how you get on and if you need any help. :)

Understuffing isn't good. But then it is harder to not pull through the stuffing when sewing on pieces if it is well stuffed. I have done the same as you! Thought things were stuffed enough and then realised when closing that they are. I use a orange stick to then carefully poke stuffing in. Takes ages but is worth it. I bet she loved receiving your swap! I would have been over the moon if I got that.